Virginia Woolf famously wrote about the importance of having your own space (and time) to create. She was speaking about women and writing specifically, but in today's era of constant distractions (hello there, pinging phone), this concept is more crucial than it's ever been before. Having your own space is essential for self care.
As a writer, photographer, and mom, I've found that carving out my own space isn't always easy. I live in a small house, and in the years of the pandemic, it felt even smaller. Still, I've found some ways to make room for myself to be creative, and you can, too. It doesn't take a ton of time or money; it just takes perseverance.
Rethink the Purpose of Every Room
Most rooms have an official purpose — from eating to sleeping to watching TV. The thing is, your lifestyle might require you to rethink what you use a room for. A great example of this is the formal dining room. In our grandparents' era, all the big meals would have happened in this room, but today, it's often unused space. Ditch that dining table and bring in your crafting surface or writing desk.
In my case, I took a hard look at a crowded storage room in my basement. Sure, it was serving a purpose, but no one ever spent any time in there.
One great way to find rooms that can be repurposed is to look at where your family doesn't spend their time. The rooms you don't use that often are perfect candidates.
De-Prioritize Storage Space
To make my home darkroom, I had to rethink the purpose of our basement storage room. It was filled with boxes of old clothes and toys, papers, holiday decorations, and all the stuff that comes with a family living in a home. Storage matters (kind of a lot), but the stuff you store isn't necessarily as important as the stuff you could make.
I ruthlessly culled the things I'd been hanging onto to clear out half the storage room for my own space. Once in a while, I wish I hadn't gotten rid of something, but I'm grateful every single day that I have a place to make my photos.
Make Part of a Room Your Own
Sure, you might not have access to an entire room, but that doesn't mean you can't carve out a closet or corner that's just for you. Take a hard look at bedroom alcoves, closets that could be cleared out, and living room corners no one really uses. Then, use curtains, room dividers, book shelves, or anything else that will help you define that space as yours. It might not be the whole room you've dreamed of, but it's going to be great.
My basement darkroom is really only half a room. The other half is still used for storage, and I hung a curtain across the room to divide it in two. In a house the size of mine, a whole room is just not a luxury I have, but the curtain makes it feel like the room is all mine.
Create a Room Outside
Another awesome option for making creative space is to look outside your house. If you've got a shed or outbuilding, you're one of the lucky ones. But even if you don't have a building, you can work or write outside in a private area of your yard. Plantings can help define a space, and so can a trellis or privacy screen. Then all you need is a work surface that can handle the weather, and you'll have your own space to use on nice summer days.
While my darkroom isn't outside, I do a lot of my photos out there. I have set areas in my yard that I've staked out as my own with backdrops and furniture I can use in my photos. The perfect outdoor setup for you will depend on your needs.
Related: Best Shrubs for Privacy
Schedule Time for Yourself to Create
Space doesn't always mean literal space; if you're busy with work and family, it can also mean time. Kids' activities, family commitments, and all your other calendar items tend to take up all the time you have, leaving you tired out at the end of every day and not really in a headspace to get creative.
I've found that, for me, it's about setting aside my time like I would any other commitment. I even put it on my calendar, especially on weekends. I add creative time to my daily to-do list, too.
Having Your Own Space Is Always Worth the Effort
Making space and time for yourself to be creative is an important type of self-care. It's not always easy or painless to carve that space out, but it's always worth it. Especially in today's loud and demanding world, having a room (or part of a room) of your own is crucial.
